Some links for beginners
Help with the terminology birders use
Cornell’s guide to fieldmarks
A great document describing feather names (look at the picture for general topography). Birders refer to these names regularly and it helps to know what they mean.
Some help with the tricky subject of Gulls
Introduction to identifying local gulls.
Some photo comparisons of gulls.
Flowcharts to help with gull ID.
Part 1. Adult Gulls
Part 2. All brown or mottled brown gulls
Part 3. Gulls with gray backs and brown wings
Part 4. Like an adult gull but…
Flowcharts copyright 1980 by Joseph Morlan. Reprinted by permission. Developed for birding classes at San Francisco City College. See the following link for course schedules and further information. http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/